using products in the right order

I've now been working on a shopping cart using our so-called wizards for 2 weeks -- full time. Not one wizard has worked without hours of troubleshooting. I've asked this question MULTIPLE times -- it's important, because if you run the wizards in the wrong order you get problems.

What is the order to run ALL the wizards to build an online store with products ... from shopping cart to registration to checkout to paypal to download history to security assist to building a download page.

Please, why won't' you guys answer this. Either you don't know, or you're ignoring me. I was excited about your products but right now -- after 2 weeks ... I'm not very happy.

I don't understand your question. There is no correct order, all the wizard functionality can be updated through server behaviors afterward and none are truly required.

It is probably best to post specific questions about the problems you are having and we can try to figure out the solutions to those issues.

If that were true, why does YOUR documentation suggest having security assist or cookies installed before creating a download page. From your response then I guess I could run the checkout wizard before doing my shopping cart? Doesn't sound right.

This is from your docs: "In order to successfully accomplish the steps describe in this document, you should first follow the steps in the following How To in order to implement register and login functionality for customers."

This to me suggests there's a proper sequence for best results. Even if you can do it in ant order -- it would still be helpful (to me anyway) to have someone who has used these programs successfully to "suggest" the best way to do it.

Would that be so hard?

I'm struggling and this is your best response? Really?

If this is how you WebAssist treats its customers, I won't be one again.

If you are working on your local host/ your own machine...
I find it to have less complications if you build the store as a seperate website by itself, called..for example..."store".
then add it into already developed pages of the site (if you have any) when you are completed and have no "issues".

In the "store"...
Get WA ecommerce database sql and install it in the server.
Run DA to build product detail pages..insert, update delete.
Also run security assist for your user info pages.
Make a blank page called cart.php
Run the wizard.

Payment integration is in the wizard...

Here is WA link to the order in which to run the ecart...and it does work out well if you do it in the as it is written.
ecart_gsg.pdf


Then you can modify after that if need be.

In addition, I build my Admin seperate also. And then copy and paste it into the "final store"
I have less headaches doing it that way. :)

As far as downloads that should be done after you have your store functioning properly.
Use DFP2 to help you set up your download stuff.
WA also has a tutorial on how to make a download page.

When you are sure everything is running smoothly, run security assist for access, or to prevent access to the area's of your site that you want restrictions to. (But I do run security assist right away for the user info, login etc, as log in stuff does help when testing all the other items, to make sure they work properly.)

Hope this was helpful..:)

Great post mustang_sally - definitely one to bookmark.

Agree about the separate sites advice.

I have a site which incorporates various WA solutions and I have separate site definitions for each of them. This ensures that each one retains its correct structure independently of other areas.

We all learn the hard way at first.

I found, that when you try to construct everything in the same site, errors can effect the entire site. So, yea, when you seperate it in pieces...it makes trouble shooting, and correcting a whole lot easier! :)

Thank you for the compliment~ :)

I'm so close, I'm going to battle-axe my way through it -- bit I really appreciate your input.

I'll be doing another site right after this one, and you can bet I'll take your advice.

Thanks again. Paul